Minoriten-Schlössl

The Minoriten-Schlössl, also known as Speidlsegg, Luschinschlössl, or Rosegg, is a minor castle in Graz Geidorf’s Quellengasse. On the Rosenberg in Graz, it towers over the city.

Stephan Speidel zu Vatersdorf, regional secretary of the Protestant college school in Graz from 1574 until 1598, had the tiny fortress erected on its grounds in 1596/97. It was christened “Speidelsegg” for its owner after it was completed in 1603. The Bishop of Lavant, Georg Stobäus von Palmburg, visited the site the same year. Speidl’s brother Sebastian continued the construction work.

The property was granted the name “Rosegg” in 1618. It was owned by the Graz Minorite Convent from 1637 to 1789 before becoming bourgeois property. The Minoriten-Schlössl held a coffee shop in the mid-nineteenth century. Arnold Luschin-Ebengreuth, a well-known legal historian, took over the building and designed the castle. He included components from demolished Graz town homes onto the structure. The Minorite Castle is now privately held.

The square and two-story building block is connected by two slanted corner towers. Originally, it had a wooden walkway connecting to it. The Minorite Castle also includes a high tent roof and a courtyard front with a Josef Hueber-designed late Baroque stone gateway (about 1770). A terrace with balustrade embellishments may be seen on the north side. The wrought-iron basket railings, which originate from the first half of the 18th century, hold four sandstone busts of philosophers and emperors.

Inside the castle, in the corridor, there is a stone late Renaissance door frame with 16th century vine relief. The wooden beam ceilings on the ground and higher floors are original to the building. The Universalmuseum Joanneum houses a marble statue of Fortuna. A plaque with the name “Rosegg” and the year of construction is located on the outside wall to the right of the gateway.

Classicist sandstone statues of Fortuna, Mercury, and Volcano were built in 1806 and may be found in the garden. A Josephine-classicist stone doorway dated 1780/90 is placed in the garden’s outer wall. It features a skylight grille made of wrought iron.